geog wa2

• Mitigation strategies


  Efforts to reduce GHG + enhance carbon sinks to SLOW DOWN effects of climate change
• Effectiveness of mitigation strategies


  • Varies across countries, depending on their technological / economic / social / institutional challenges
• International agreements + cooperation


  Stabilise GHG emissions at a level that would: prevent irreversible anthropogenic impacts + provide sufficient time for ecosystems to adapt
• UNFCC


  • Signed by 197 parties
• How UNFCC works


  Puts greater responsibilities on developing countries to lead the way, as they are considered the main source of GHG emissions and are expected to cut GHG emissions the most; Funds + technological innovations are directed to climate action in least developed countries; Countries are required to regularly report on their climate change policies + GHG emissions
• Limitations of UNFCC


  • Institutional: different countries = different priorities = different commitments; Institutional: contributions are NOT legally binding
• Low carbon technologies


  Emit low levels of GHG, e.g. carbon capture: separating + capturing CO2; Utilisation + storage: storing C in oceans / using CO2 as raw material to sell
• Limitations of low carbon technologies

  • Economic: expensive / requires public funding + subsidies for private research & development; Technological: stored C may leak out over time
• Types of clean energy sources


  • Solar energy; Hydro-electric power; Geothermal; Nuclear
• Limitations of clean energy sources


  • Economic: developments + constructions are expensive; Economic: depends heavily on government policies + financial support
• Changes in consumption patterns


  • Food choices: reduce meat, eat more vegetables/local produce; Food waste: buy only what you need, repurpose food waste; Use of plastics: reduce single-use plastics, recycle; Fashion: buy sustainable materials, donate, upcycle, thrift
• Limitations of changes in consumption patterns


  • Social: takes a long time to change people's mindset; Economic: companies may be reluctant to change
• Mitigation strategies to enhance carbon sinks


  • Reducing deforestation; Restoring mangroves
• Limitations of enhancing carbon sinks

  • Economic: difficult to reduce deforestation due to competing land-use; Social: creates competition for land > increase food prices > threatens food security; Technological: takes a long time for full effect
• Forest regeneration


  • Afforestation: planting trees in a NEW area; Reforestation: RE-planting trees; Agroforestry: different species of trees growing on a piece of land
• Adaptation strategies


  Efforts to adjust to effects of climate change, place & context specific, includes: structural / technological / social / institutional
• Structural adaptation approaches


  • Seawall: prevents sea from advancing into land, protects people from coastal flooding; Polder: low-lying land protected by barriers, excess water is pumped out, protects people from coastal flooding; Water storage tanks: infrastructure to store excess water during excessive rainfall, prevents flooding in canals / drains
• Limitations of structural adaptation approaches

  • Economic: costly to build / need to be monitored + enhanced regularly; Social: construction may evict communities (forced eviction)
• Technological adaptation approaches


  • High-tech vegetable farms: ensure crops grow in optimal environments; High-tech egg farms: automated = increase speed; High-tech fish farms: monitor water quality = prevents spread of diseases
• Limitations of technological adaptation approaches

  • Economic: costly (not possible for countries with limited funding)
• Tourists


  Person who travel outside of their usual environment for leisure / personal purposes
• Types of tourists


  • Backpackers (tight $)
  • Business (meetings / conference)
  • Pilgrims (religious)
• Tourism system


  • Inter-connected - 1 affects all
• Tourist generating region


  Where tourists come from, where businesses / tourism products are based
• Tourist destination region


  Attracts tourists, has attractions / amenities / facilities
• Transit route

  Route tourists travel to reach destination, includes stopover points for convenience / attractions
• Availability of transit routes

  Arrow thickness = volume, arrow direction = direction of travel

  Limited / inconvenient transit routes = volume decreases

  More transit routes = transit increases

  Attractions / convenient routes = direction may change
• Relationship between generating + destination


  Push (GR) & pull (DR) factors
• Push factors

  Causes tourists to want to leave the GR (e.g. stressful work environment / lack of entertainment / pollution)
• Pull factors


  Attracts tourists to DR (e.g. scenic beauty / events / attractions / amenities)
• Mutually depending businesses / tourists

  Tourists depend on tour operators to plan their trips

  Tour operators depend on hotels for tourists' accommodation

  Hotels depend on tour operators for profits
• Tourism interactions with the environment

  Negative: tourists litter / degrade environment

  Positive: tourists generate revenue / improves economy
• Demand for travel


  Fewer tourists = lesser incomes in DR + transit routes

  New attractions = increase motivation for travel = greater income of DR + transit route